Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of mandatory unpaid clinical placements on student nurses' ability to meet the employment hour thresholds required to access Government childcare support schemes.

Practice learning is intended to support student development, not to meet workforce pressures. Students are not employed to provide care, do not hold contracts of employment, and are therefore unpaid.

It is essential that students have the time and space to develop the skills and experience needed to graduate and join the professional register. These protections also ensure that students do not substitute for trained professionals delivering patient care.

DHSC provides eligible healthcare students with non‑repayable support through the NHS Learning Support Fund, including a £5,000 annual training grant and an additional £2,000 for those with childcare responsibilities, reviewed annually.

All students, including student nurses are eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education regardless of family circumstances. Those undertaking paid work may access 30 hours if they meet income requirements.

Full-time students with dependent children may also access the Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance, subject to household income.